A frequent question from our customers is “how do I clean acrylic?” While there are many ways to clean acrylic, we have found the best products and methods to ensure your display case maintains that “brand new” look. How do we know it’s the best? Because we use these products and methods every day!
Choosing a cleaner
You want to choose a cleaner that is specifically designed for cleaning plexiglass, plastic, or acrylic. These will be non-abrasive and ammonia-free. We have found that NOVUS #1 Plastic Clean & Shine is the best acrylic cleaner on the market. NOVUS #1 will gently clean plexiglass, acrylic, and plastic without leaving scratches. It leaves a polished shine that resists fogging, repels dust, and eliminates static. It is also one of the only products that both cleans AND shines, you will not have to buy two products.
NEVER use Windex, glass cleaner, or other ammonia-based products for cleaning acrylic. They are not designed to clean acrylic and can permanently damage your display case due to their acidic nature.
NEVER use vinegar-based products for cleaning acrylic. Just like glass cleaners, the acidic nature of vinegar will permanently damage your acrylic. A mild soap and water can be used as a natural way to clean acrylic.
Choosing a cloth
Your ideal cleaning cloth should be non-abrasive, absorbent, and lint-free. A microfiber cleaning cloth is the best way to clean acrylic because it meets these conditions. NOVUS Polish Mates are the best microfiber cloth because they are durable, abrasion resistant, and highly absorbent.
NEVER use paper towels or kitchen/bathroom towels for cleaning acrylic because they are abrasive and will scratch acrylic. NOVUS does offer products that remove scratches from acrylic, but the best way to prevent scratches is to not use paper towels or kitchen/bath towels.
If you are looking for a natural method for cleaning acrylic, use a soft cotton cloth (such as a diaper) can be substituted. Make sure it is not a rayon or polyester cloth as they can leave scratches.
Cleaning your acrylic
- If your surface is extremely dirty, you will want to spray your acrylic liberally with NOVUS #1 Plastic Clean & Shine
- Use a long, sweeping stroke to wipe up the dirt from the surface. Make sure not to put pressure on the display case as lingering dirt may scratch the surface.
- Spray your NOVUS #1 onto a clean portion of your cloth and polish your acrylic with short, circular strokes.
- When you have covered the entire surface with NOVUS, use a clean portion of your cloth and buff your acrylic. This will make the display case more resistant to dust and scratching.
